A bold declaration from an unexpected voice

Political analyst and author Prince Mashele has thrown South Africa’s political sphere a curveball. In a startling but passionate statement, he declared that he would publicly endorse Democratic Alliance (DA) veteran Helen Zille if she contests the 2026 Johannesburg mayoral elections.

Mashele’s endorsement isn’t just surprising, it’s unprecedented.

“I am not a supporter of the DA,” he said in an interview with Sizwe Mpofu-Walsh on the SMWX podcast. “But if Helen Zille wins the contest to become the mayoral candidate of Johannesburg, I am going to do something I have never done in my life. I am going to publicly endorse her with a heavy heart.”

Johannesburg: A city in crisis

Mashele’s emotional statement echoes the frustrations of countless Joburg residents. Once regarded as the economic heartbeat of the continent, the city has become emblematic of service delivery failure. In his words, “Johannesburg used to be the pride of Africa. Now it is in ruins.”

Water outages in Sandton. Crumbling roads and hijacked buildings in the inner city. Potholes, power cuts, and rising urban decay—these are not just headlines. They’re daily realities for people trying to live and work in a city that once promised opportunity.

Mashele singles out former ANC mayor Parks Tau, now Trade and Industry Minister, as one of the politicians who “destroyed” the city. He also lashed out at current mayor Dada Morero, calling him “incompetent,” saying, “The richest square mile in Africa without water, this can only happen under Dada Morero.”

Zille’s track record: Can she bring the Cape Town touch to Joburg?

Helen Zille, former premier of the Western Cape and former Cape Town mayor, has a reputation that precedes her, whether you support her politics or not. Mashele points to her governance legacy in the Western Cape and Cape Town as examples of leadership Johannesburg desperately needs.

“She ran Cape Town. She did not destroy it. She ran the Western Cape. She did not destroy it,” he said.

In fact, Zille herself has confirmed she’s considering a bid for the mayoral chain. Back in June, she told IOL she’d been approached to run and was “consulting her family.”

If she does decide to run and is backed by her party, the DA, the 2026 local elections could become one of Johannesburg’s most watched and contested races in decades.

Reactions: Social media buzz and public skepticism

The news of Mashele’s would-be endorsement caused ripples on X (formerly Twitter), where users weighed in with mixed feelings. Some applauded the bold stance:

“Finally, someone willing to put country over party. Zille has a record.”

Others questioned the sincerity of the gesture:

“Mashele is grandstanding. Endorsing someone you don’t politically align with is not a solution.”

Political observers note that Mashele’s support, while not a DA endorsement, could sway middle-ground or disillusioned voters—especially those tired of ANC governance but hesitant to back opposition parties.

Mayor Morero: “We are working on it”

Responding to criticism earlier this year, Mayor Dada Morero defended his administration. He cited challenges dating back to 2016 and said dedicated teams were addressing Johannesburg’s infrastructure collapse.

Speaking at the opening of the Naledi Clinic in Soweto, he said:

“We have now been given an opportunity to address those challenges, and we need time to do so.”

His administration also called on President Cyril Ramaphosa to intervene. In response, Ramaphosa launched the Presidential Johannesburg Working Group (PJWG) to assist with urgent city issues.

But critics like Mashele argue that time has already run out.

The battle for Johannesburg’s soul

Helen Zille’s potential return to frontline politics, especially in a city as politically symbolic and economically critical as Johannesburg, would set the stage for a high-stakes 2026 municipal election.

Prince Mashele’s declaration, made “with a heavy heart,” is not just about one politician. It reflects a growing despair among South Africans who feel abandoned by the system and are willing to rethink old loyalties to save their cities.

The question now is: Will Zille run? And if she does, can Johannesburg believe in change, again?

{Source: IOL}

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